In celebration of American labor

This Labor Day, take a look back at the American worker from the Time Life archives.

Carl Mydans/Time Life

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“...Under the smoke, dust all over his mouth, laughing with white teeth,Under the terrible burden of destiny laughing as a young man laughs,Laughing even as an ignorant fighter laughs who has never lost a battle,Bragging and laughing that under his wrist is the pulse,and under his ribs the heart of the people...”

from Chicago by Carl Sandberg

Carl Mydans/Time Life

1of40

“...Under the smoke, dust all over his mouth, laughing with white teeth,Under the terrible burden of destiny laughing as a young man laughs,Laughing even as an ignorant fighter laughs who has never lost a battle,Bragging and laughing that under his wrist is the pulse,and under his ribs the heart of the people...”